Department for Transport

Pedestrians: Mobile Phones

Lord Blencathra: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they intend to criminalise the obstruction of traffic by pedestrians using a mobile device.

Baroness Kramer: Section 137 of the Highways Act 1980 (as amended by sections 38 and 46 of the Criminal Justice Act 1982 and the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984, Schedule 7) provides an offence of wilful obstruction of the highway.Section 137(1) states an offence is committed if a person, without lawful authority or excuse, in any way wilfully obstructs the free passage along a highway.

Pedestrians: Mobile Phones

Lord Blencathra: To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many traffic accidents have been caused or partly caused by pedestrians using a mobile device.

Baroness Kramer: Her Majesty’s Government does not hold any information about the number of traffic accidents that involve a pedestrian using a mobile device.

Air Routes: Northern Ireland

Lord Eames: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of the possible sale of Aer Lingus, what plans they have to protect and maintain regular and frequent air links between Northern Ireland and the rest of the United Kingdom.

Baroness Kramer: Airlines, as the airports they serve, operate in a competitive market. Northern Ireland is well-connected by air to London with over 17,000 flights per year between the two Belfast airports and Derry Airport and the five main London airports, carrying over two million passengers. The airports also maintain good connections with other UK airports – Belfast International Airport has connections to eleven domestic destinations, Belfast City Airport to nineteen and Derry airport to three.

Aviation: Security

Lord Eames: To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many electronic body scanners have been placed at airports of the United Kingdom and at what cost.

Baroness Kramer: On 1 February 2015 security scanners were in place at 17 airports with a further 2 airports expected to deploy security scanners in the coming months. The cost of security scanners falls to the airports. The Department for Transport does not hold information on the cost.

Aviation: Security

Lord Eames: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have plans to place electronic body scanners at all airports of the United Kingdom.

Baroness Kramer: The further deployment of security scanners was advised in the ministerial statement of 21 November 2013. Work is underway with those airports which already deploy security scanners to consider the case for increasing their deployment of security scanners. The Department for Transport keeps all aviation security measures under continual review to ensure that the measures are sustainable, proportionate and practicable and any wider deployment of security scanners would be considered on a risk assessed basis. UK airports comply with EU and UK regulations for the screening of passengers and there are a number of screening methods and equipment options in use.

Rolling Stock: Procurement

Lord Bradshaw: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the train operating companies at present running InterCity Services will be closely involved in the fitting-out procedure for the carriages of the new InterCity express trains.

Baroness Kramer: The InterCity Express trains have been designed with input from the train operators running intercity services. The train interiors are designed flexibly to meet rising passenger demand. Hitachi are responsible for fitting out the trains as part of the manufacturing process and they continue to work closely with the train operating companies.

Large Goods Vehicles: Speed Limits

Baroness Byford: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Statement by Baroness Kramer on 24 July 2014 (WS 137), in what way the raising of the heavy goods vehicle speed limit facilitates the introduction of tougher procedures and sanctions; and what steps have been taken to make those introductions.

Baroness Kramer: The new speed limits will facilitate tougher processes and sanctions against offenders, because there will be fewer offenders to target and there will be a greater consensus that breaking the limits will be wrong, unsafe and not part of normal behaviour. Changes to the vocational driver conduct process (which operates in addition to court or fixed penalty disposals of offences) related to mobile phone use have been introduced recently. They include more warning letters for first time offenders, more traffic commissioner hearings and a starting point of the loss of an HGV driving entitlement for several weeks for second time offenders. The Senior Traffic Commissioner (STC) is preparing revised guidelines and is considering extending this approach to drivers who break the new 50 mph and 60 mph national HGV speed limits.The STC has started an initial gathering of views and information from some key stakeholders representing the commercial vehicle industry, road safety organisations (including victims' charities), passenger and driver bodies and other parts of Government. Formal consultation on the new guidelines is planned for this summer.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Burma

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they support the remarks of the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Burma, Yangjee Lee, on the "significant human rights concerns" of Burma’s new laws and her warning that they would "legalise discrimination, in particular against religious and ethnic minorities and against women".

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: We strongly support the mandate and work of the UN Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in Burma, Yanghee Lee. While her full report has not yet issued, we share her concerns about the proposed so-called protection of race and religion bills. Like her, we have concerns about the discriminatory effect these laws could have in Burma, particularly for religious and other minority groups and women, were they to be enacted. We have voiced our concerns over this proposed legislation to members of the Burmese government and parliamentarians. Most recently, Minister of State at the Home Office, my right hon. Friend the Member for Hornsey and Wood Green (Lynne Featherstone), raised the issue when she met Deputy Foreign Minister Thant Kyaw during her visit to Burma in January. The UK also endorsed a statement issued by EU Heads of Mission in Rangoon in January reiterating those concerns and calling on the Burmese government and parliament to ensure that all new legislation is fully compliant with Burma’s international human rights obligations. More widely, the British Government deplores the hateful and abusive language used by a prominent monk against Ms Lee following her recent visit. Such sexist abuse and intimidation of human rights defenders emphasises the need for the Burmese government to increase its efforts to strengthen respect for universal human rights and tackle hate speech. We call on the Ministry of Religious Affairs to act on the matter.

Northern Ireland Office

Human Rights: Republic of Ireland

Lord Laird: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they consider that the government of the Republic of Ireland has completed all the actions in favour of human rights assigned to it in the Belfast Agreement of 1998.

Baroness Randerson: The UK and Irish Governments meet regularly both at ministerial and official level to discuss issues of mutual interest and concerns including matters relating to the implementation of the Belfast Agreement in each jurisdiction. There is no formal mechanism in the Belfast Agreement for monitoring the progress of each government other than the British Irish Intergovernmental Conference.

Government Departments: Staff

Lord Laird: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to reduce the number of people employed in the Northern Ireland Office during the next three years.

Baroness Randerson: The Northern Ireland Office keeps its staffing levels under regular review. Vacancies are only filled when it is judged there is a continuing business case to do so.The Northern Ireland Office reduced its staffing levels by 19% between 2010/11 and 1 January 2015 with staff numbers reducing from 164 to 133.

Northern Ireland Government

Lord Laird: To ask Her Majesty’s Government which members of the House of Lords from Northern Ireland were invited and which members of the House of Lords from Northern Ireland were not invited to a briefing meeting with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on 3 February; and what were the reasons for this.

Baroness Randerson: Invitations to the briefing for Peers on 3 February were delivered to the House of Lords for all Peers known to be from Northern Ireland or to have an interest in its affairs.

Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

Arms Trade: Exports

Lord Roberts of Llandudno: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what consideration they give to countries' human rights records when granting arms export licences.

Lord Livingston of Parkhead: I refer the noble Lord to the answer I gave on 4 February 2015, HL4494.

Trade Agreements

Lord Pearson of Rannoch: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the reasons for differences in the number of free trade agreements which include services entered into by the European Union and Switzerland respectively; and what plans they have to address the difference.

Lord Livingston of Parkhead: Switzerland and the European Union have entered into a significant number of free trade agreements. Switzerland has around 30 FTAs and the EU approximately 50. Services have been included in some of these agreements but not all.   The UK Government is a strong supporter of the inclusion of Services in free trade agreements, because it creates a more stable and transparent trading and investment environment for UK companies to export their Services to trading partner markets. This is why Services form a strong component in our modern trade agreements such as with Canada, Korea and Singapore. It will also feature strongly in the EU’s upcoming agreements with Vietnam and the United States (TTIP). Many of these agreement are very ambitious covering areas often not included in traditional agreements and reflecting the range of trade carried out by the EU.   The EU is committed to the inclusion on Services in its negotiations and has fully supported the establishment of the Trade in Services Agreement (TiSA). The agreement is solely based on Services and derived from a concerted push by the services industry. TiSA is based on the WTO's General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS), which involves all WTO members. More information on TiSA can be found on the following website http://ec.europa.eu/trade/policy/in-focus/tisa/

EU External Trade

Lord Pearson of Rannoch: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made, in the light of Singapore’s conclusion by 2005 of free trade agreements which include services with Japan, the United States, India and China, of the reasons why the European Union has not entered into such agreements with those countries.

Lord Livingston of Parkhead: The European Union is currently negotiating free trade agreements with Japan, the United States, India (currently at a standstill) and an investment agreement with China. Each of these negotiations includes services.   For the EU, trade in services is of strategic importance. The sector accounts for some three-quarters of EU gross domestic product (GDP) and of EU jobs. Liberalising trade in services will be an important component of the EU negotiations with Japan and the United States.   The EU is committed to the inclusion of services in its free trade agreements. In the investment agreement with China, the EU is addressing market access issues relating to services and it is hoped that the India FTA negotiations will resume. In the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership agreement (TTIP) between the EU and US, better market access for services is one of the top priorities.   In recognising the importance of trade in services negotiations the EU is also taking an active role in the Trade in Services (TiSA) negotiations. TiSA is based on the WTO's General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS), which involves all WTO members.   More information on TiSA can be found on the following website http://ec.europa.eu/trade/policy/in-focus/tisa/

Overseas Companies: Burma

Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what was the cost of preparation of the recent report "Opportunities for British companies in Burma’s oil and gas sector".

Lord Livingston of Parkhead: The report was prepared & published by UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) staff members at the British Embassy in Rangoon as part of their normal work in advising UK companies on how to do business in the market. £260 was spent on the printing of hard copies of the report for distribution.

Department for Education

Schools: Admissions

Lord Stoddart of Swindon: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Nash on 27 January concerning the shortfall of school places by 2023 (HL4305), whether the Department for Education has taken account of the net immigration figures between 1997 and 2014 in its planning for future school provision; and if not, why not.

Lord Nash: Local authorities are responsible for securing sufficient school places in their area. They are responsible for planning the number of places they will need in the future and they consider a number of factors when planning the number of places needed including rising birth rates, housing development, trends in internal migration and migration to England from elsewhere in the United Kingdom and from overseas. The Department for Education allocates funding to local authorities based on these forecasts. The Department considers national population estimates from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) in its planning assumptions about the number of new school places that will be needed in the years beyond those for which there are local authority level forecasts - these include estimates of net migration. The ONS’s population estimates are available at: www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/snpp/sub-national-population-projections/2012-based-projections/stb-2012-based-snpp.html#tab-Introduction

Ministry of Justice

Criminal Proceedings: Vulnerable Adults

The Lord Bishop of St Albans: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to ensure that support is made available for vulnerable defendants by registered intermediaries in the criminal justice system, as currently is the case for vulnerable witnesses.

Lord Faulks: The Government is committed to ensuring that all defendants receive a fair trial. We are currently considering formalising the provision of intermediaries for vulnerable defendants. It should be noted that, as well as a variety of measures currently available to courts to ensure a fair trial, if necessary, the Judiciary can already grant the use of an intermediary to assist vulnerable defendants.

Ministry of Defence

Armed Forces: Training

Lord Eames: To ask Her Majesty’s Government to what extent joint training in peace-keeping methods has taken place involving the armed forces of the United Kingdom and those of the Republic of Ireland.

Lord Astor of Hever: At present the UK and the Irish Defence Force cooperate in a limted number of activities, including the UK's support to the EU training mission in Mali and the UK's efforts to counter Ebola in Sierra Leone. However, the Memorandum of Understanding signed by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence and his Irish counterpart on 19 January 2015 contains provisions for greater co-operation in training, as a result of which we hope to see UK/Irish training expanded in the future, including in the area of peacekeeping.

Nuclear Submarines

Lord Wigley: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of the report in the Scottish Daily Mail on 28 January, whether they have considered moving Britain's nuclear armed submarines from Scotland to Wales.

Lord Astor of Hever: The UK Government is not considering moving the strategic nuclear deterrent to Wales. Her Majesty's Naval Base Clyde will become the Royal Navy's Submarine Centre of Specialisation, and home to all Royal Navy submarines by 2020.

Department for Work and Pensions

Work Experience

Lord Allen of Kensington: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what action they are taking to promote equal access to intern opportunities for all; and how many disabled people have received help from the Access to Work Fund in order to participate fully in internship programmes.

Lord Freud: Her Majesty’s Government promote equal access to intern opportunities through a series of communications strands such as: · The rising awareness of Disability Confident Britain and it’s media profile will help increase awareness of the Access to Work (AtW) support available;· Continually improving and developing Advisory knowledge and skills in supporting Disabled People into work and remaining in work, and;· Marketing the Jobcentre Plus offer directly to employers and other organisations and institutions. Moreover, Access to Work gives practical support and help to meet additional costs to overcome barriers. AtW can usually support people only in paid internships, however we have extended Access to Work to cover the Supported internships scheme for young people with special educational needs and for young people undertaking Traineeships. DWP does not have a robust means of reporting programme volumes for internships.

State Retirement Pensions: British Nationals Abroad

Baroness Benjamin: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what consideration they have given to uprating the state pension of retired British citizens who have made full National Insurance contributions in the United Kingdom but who now live abroad.

Baroness Benjamin: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have assessed the policy of freezing the state pension of retired individuals who live abroad in certain Commonwealth countries against the 2013 Commonwealth Charter commitments to fairness and non-discrimination; and with what result.

Baroness Benjamin: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the impact of their policy to freeze rather than uprate the state pensions of those living abroad in countries without bilateral social security agreements on British pensioners living in the United Kingdom who might otherwise choose to move overseas.

Baroness Benjamin: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to ensure that all recipients of United Kingdom state pensions resident in Caribbean countries are treated on a fair and equal basis.

Baroness Benjamin: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their estimate of (1) the number of British pensioners overall, and (2) the proportion of those from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities, who would be more likely to emigrate if the practice of freezing pensions for those who live overseas was ended.

Lord Freud: The policy of this Coalition Government on the up-rating of UK state pension paid to people living overseas is the same as that of successive post-war Governments. This is to up-rate such pensions where we are legally required to under the terms of EU law or a bilateral social security agreement. The up-rating policy is determined by the differing social security arrangements for the countries concerned. Most bilateral agreements were entered into over 40 years ago and based on the prevailing economic and social conditions such as labour market migration patterns – in both the UK and the other countries. The Commonwealth Charter, while it provides a broad statement of common values, does not overrule national legislation in commonwealth countries. Around 13 million UK state pensions are paid to those entitled, of which around 1.2 million are paid to those living outside the UK. Approximately 550,000 pensioners live in countries in which the UK state pension is not up-rated. The UK state pension is paid on the basis of National Insurance contributions and not on the basis of nationality or citizenship. Information on the nationality, citizenship and ethnicity of state pension recipients is not available. There is no evidence of a proven behavioural link between up-rating policy and pensioner migration. Many of the pensioners migrated well before they reached State Pension age. Only a small minority of UK state pension recipients, less than five per cent, moved overseas at retirement. However it remains important that those planning to live overseas consider the impact on their state pension. The decision to move abroad remains a personal choice for individuals.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Fisheries: Navy

Lord West of Spithead: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the reduction in the number of offshore patrol vessels available for fishing protection on their meeting their responsibilities within the United Kingdom economic exclusion zone.

Lord De Mauley: Responsibility for fisheries protection in English waters lies with the Maritime Management Organisation (MMO). Fishery protection services in English and Welsh waters are provided by the Royal Navy (RN) under a formal agreement with the MMO. The service is provided by 3 offshore patrol vessels of the Fisheries Protection Squadron. The MMO has identified that the provision of 500 days at sea is currently sufficient to enable the UK to meet its obligations for at sea surveillance and inspection under the Common Fisheries Policy. This assessment is kept under constant review as enforcement obligations and priorities change.   As the following figures show this minimum commitment has been maintained for the last 2 years and is projected to be delivered again for the year 2014 – 15. 2012 – 13 562 days 2013 – 14 512.5 days 2014 – 15 509 days (projected)   The financial contribution to the RN for this service has been reduced in return for a move from dedicated 24 hour fishery protection days to 9 hour days. These days enable surveillance and inspection of fishing vessels to be undertaken during key fishing periods. The minimum number of days required has been maintained during the current financial year despite the fact that one offshore patrol vessel has been deployed elsewhere for part of the year.   Responsibility for fisheries protection in Scottish and Northern Irish waters is a matter for the Scottish Government and Department of Agriculture and Rural Development for Northern Ireland respectively.

Department for Communities and Local Government

Occupied Territories

Baroness Tonge: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they plan to encourage Jewish faith leaders in the United Kingdom publicly to condemn settlement building by Israel and to make clear their support for universal human rights.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The Government does not ask faith leaders to comment on the actions of foreign governments. Moreover our support for universal human rights is clear. The UK's position on settlements is they are illegal, present an obstacle to peace, and take us further away from a two state solution.

Right to Buy Scheme

Lord Stoddart of Swindon: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon on 15 January concerning the Right to Buy scheme (HL4050), how many social housing units were lost to provide the £600 million; how many will be provided from that money; what consideration they have given to the wider fairness of offering property at a discount to those who have already enjoyed a social housing tenancy; and whether Stamp Duty on such sales is levied at full market value or on the discounted value.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The Government is committed to helping tenants achieve their home ownership aspirations. The Right to Buy Scheme has helped almost 2 million households to enjoy the benefits of home ownership, including greater independence, and the security of owning a valuable asset. Over £600 million has been generated from 14,731 additional Right to Buy sales since the policy was reinvigorated in April 2012. All but two stock holding authorities have entered into agreements with the Government to replace that stock on a one-for-one basis within three years, and any one-for-one receipts not used by authorities will be returned to the Homes and Communities Agency or the Greater London Authority for investment in new affordable housing. Stamp Duty is worked out as a percentage of the price the tenant pays for a property. Information on Stamp Duty can be obtained from: www.hmrc.gov.uk/sdlt/intro/rates-thresholds.htm

HM Treasury

Welfare Tax Credits

Baroness King of Bow: To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many tax credit recipients have received an administrative penalty relating to overpayments in each of the past four years.

Lord Deighton: The following table outlines the number of tax credit claims that have been subject to a penalty in each of the past four years.   Penalties applied in periodTax credit claims subject to a civil penalty2013-1415,1822012-138,0202011-122,7692010-111,932

Debts

Lord Birt: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Deighton on 7 July 2014 (HL686), what is the aggregate value of the debt of the government, non-financial corporations, the household sector and financial institutions as a proportion of Gross Domestic Product for the United Kingdom, and for the other G7 countries.

Lord Deighton: The latest data from the OECD is available from 2012 and is presented below:Debt as a % of nominal GDP (2012)CountryPrivate Sector*General GovernmentFinancial Corporations**United States196.6%123.3%258.7%Canada235.3%109.0%274.0%Italy178.7%134.9%202.8%France218.4%110.4%221.8%Germany153.8%86.2%252.1%Japan240.5%235.9%463.3%UK195.1%95.6%423.9%   *Private sector is non-financial corporations and households **Financial corporations is securities (other than shares and derivatives), plus loans   Notes: The UK and other nations moved to the new European System of Accounts 2010 standard in September 2014 which mean that the GDP debt levels are not comparable with previous PQ answered by Lord Deighton on 7 July 2014 (HL686).   A liability (debt) for one sector is often an asset for another.

Arms Trade: Saudi Arabia

Lord Roberts of Llandudno: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what was the total revenue to the Exchequer as a result of arms sales to Saudi Arabia in the last year.

Lord Deighton: This information is not available. UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) does collect information from private sector companies on what contracts defence companies win with Saudi Arabia and other countries. This data is provided on a confidential basis and only published in aggregated format. This data exercise does not include details on tax paid to the UK however.

Department for Energy and Climate Change

Woodhead Tunnel

Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb: To ask Her Majesty’s Government why they are considering the use of high voltage power cables in the Woodhead rail tunnel, when overhead transmission lines are used for the scenic part of the valley.

Baroness Verma: The high voltage electricity line between Thorpe Marsh near Doncaster and Stalybridge, which goes through the Woodhead tunnel, has been in place for many years and is owned and operated by National Grid. The line was originally consented in 1964 and a decision was made to use the Woodhead tunnel so that overhead lines did not cross the highest land on the route.National Grid is currently undertaking necessary maintenance works on the overhead line.

Cabinet Office

Electoral Register

Lord Storey: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the electoral registration app for smart phones recently launched in Dundee; and what plans they have to encourage the use of smart phone technology to facilitate voter registration, particularly amongst young people.

Lord Wallace of Saltaire: The Government welcomes all activity by local Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) to promote the online channel for voter registration. We have introduced online registration which makes registering to vote quicker and more accessible than ever before and can be done on a smartphone, tablet or PC in around 5 minutes. Since 10 June over 900,000 18-24 year olds have applied to register to vote with over 700,000 of these applications having been made on-line.

General Election 2015

Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Wallace of Saltaire on 20 January (HL3929), whom they have appointed to review the operation of Part 6 of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 in relation to the 2015 general election, as has to happen by the end of January under section 39 of the Transparency of Lobbying, Non-Party Campaigning and Trade Union Administration Act 2014.

Lord Wallace of Saltaire: On 28 January 2015, the Government announced (HLWS206) that Lord Hodgson of Astley Abbotts will conduct the review of Part 6 of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 as provided for under section 39 of the Transparency of Lobbying, Non-Party Campaigning and Trade Union Administration Act 2014.

Department of Health

Fertility: Drugs

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answers by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Public Health, Jane Ellison, on 14 July 2014 (HC Deb, col 448W), by Earl Howe on 2 December 2014 (HL2907) and by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, George Freeman, on 14 January 2015 (HC220047), which body is responsible for regulating the administration of drugs used in fertility treatment; which fertility clinics in the United Kingdom are known to have administered drugs to patients when the corresponding drugs have not yet been licensed by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), regardless of whether or not the clinics concerned have been licensed by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA); which clinics in the United Kingdom that have been licensed by the HFEA are known to have administered reagents to permitted gametes or permitted embryos that are then introduced into patients when the reagents concerned have not otherwise been licensed by the MHRA for clinical use; how either the HFEA or the MHRA would be kept aware of all such instances; what the regulatory consequences are in each case; which body is responsible for collecting data regarding the effects of particular dosages on the welfare of the developing child and the health of the mother; and whether such data are collected on a case by case basis or as part of a clinical trial.

Earl Howe: The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is the Government body responsible for the safety and licensing of medicines in the United Kingdom.   Under their terms of service, general practitioners and hospital doctors are allowed to prescribe any medicinal product, including any unlicensed medicinal product, in order to meet special clinical need (subject to any local funding arrangements). They should always satisfy themselves that the medicinal products, or other substances they consider appropriate for their patients, can be safely prescribed, that patients are adequately monitored and that, where necessary, expert hospital supervision is available.   The administration of medicinal products to patients undergoing fertility treatment is a matter of clinical judgment by the treating clinician. It is not regulated by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA). The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence’s Guideline Fertility, Assessment and treatment for people with fertility problems provides guidance for healthcare professionals on the use of such products, including those used for ovarian stimulation. The HFEA has advised that it does not collect information on the identity of medicinal products used in treatment.   The HFEA is aware of some clinics that have administered reagents to permitted gametes or permitted embryos that are then introduced into patients when the reagents concerned have not been CE marked. Such instances are identified by sample audits conducted during the course of inspection and documented in the report of the inspection.   Although the HFEA does not hold information on the effects of particular dosages on the welfare of the developing child and the health of the mother, the HFEA expects clinics to do such monitoring as part of their licensing conditions.

In Vitro Fertilisation

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Earl Howe on 26 January 2015 (HL4064), why the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) does not consider that discussion of genetic modification, as it might be considered to apply to the creation of human admixed embryos, can usefully add to the debate on the definition of genetic modification in humans; whether the basis for the HFEA’s particular position is legal, scientific, doctrinal, ideological or pecuniary; whether the HFEA is capable of distinguishing between human embryos that have been genetically modified or not; if so, why it is unable to determine whether the generation of any human admixed embryos as defined under section 4A(6)(a) to (c) of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990 would constitute genetic modification; and if not, how the HFEA is able to regulate such manipulation of human embryos.

Earl Howe: We are advised that the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) does not believe that discussion of genetic modification, as it might be considered to apply to the creation of human admixed embryos, can usefully add to the debate on the definition of genetic modification in humans. This is because the current debate relates to the use of human eggs and embryos, which might be permitted for use in treatment, which would not involve the use of animal DNA, eggs or embryos.   The HFEA has also advised that the regulatory framework enables the Authority to provide appropriate oversight of all embryos used in treatment and research.

In Vitro Fertilisation

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answers by Earl Howe on 26 January 2015 (HL4063 and HL4228), how members of the Expert Panel convened by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) were assured that the children were genetically normal in the absence of any further information when the published abstract only referred to a "normal karyotype" and there was no "data concerned" further to support this; whether each of the mitochondrial diseases listed in Annex D of the Department of Health’s consultation document entitled "Mitochondrial Donation" is associated with an abnormal karyotype; whether they will place in the Library of the House a full copy of the correspondence between the member of the HFEA’s Expert Panel and the Zhang research group; if not, why not; and on what date or dates the correspondence was shared with all other members of the HFEA’s Expert Panel.

Earl Howe: I have nothing further to add to the answers given previously on the subject of the published abstract of the Zhang research group.   We are advised that all of the mitochondrial diseases listed in the consultation document are due to point mutations or deletions and thus there is a normal karyotype.

In Vitro Fertilisation

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Earl Howe on 21 January (HL4011) regarding the challenges facing the National Health Service of tackling obesity, what assessment the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) has made of the impact of findings recently reported in the journal Endocrinology (Volume 155, Issue 11, pages 4554–67); and what data is held by the HFEA that would permit follow-up studies of children conceived via in vitro fertilisation, in order to establish whether or not trends observed in mice are similarly apparent in humans.

Earl Howe: The Human Fertilisation and Fertilisation Authority (HFEA) has advised that it has not made an assessment of the impact of findings recently reported in the journal Endocrinology (Volume 155, Issue 11, pages 4554-67). However, the legislative framework allows the HFEA to hold data that can be linked to other databases holding height and weight data (for instance the Clinical Practice Research Datalink). Providing this linkage is performed by researchers at a United Kingdom institution, it would be permissible to carry out follow-up studies of children conceived via in vitro fertilisation, in order to establish whether or not the trend observed in mice is similarly apparent in humans.

Diabetes

Lord Harrison: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what progress has been made in reducing the national diabetes-related amputation rate since their commitment to halve the rate two years ago.

Earl Howe: NHS England and clinical commissioning groups have responsibility for determining the overall approach to improving clinical outcomes from healthcare services for people with diabetes. Nevertheless, there are various actions at a national level which will help to ensure that all patients with diabetes receive good quality care, including foot care, to help improve outcomes and minimise amputation rates.   The new National Diabetes Foot Care Audit, a module of the National Diabetes Audit, aims to establish the extent to which national guidelines on the management of diabetic foot disease are being met. The audit will provide local teams with the evidence needed to tackle any identified differences in practice which will lead to an overall improvement in management and outcomes for patients. Local and national level results will be available in March 2016. However, we do know that there has been an increase in the proportion of trusts with multidisciplinary diabetic footcare teams, from around 60% in 2011 to over 70% in 2013.   As part of its focus on the Cardiovascular Disease Outcomes Strategy, NHS Improving Quality is working with the National Clinical Director for Diabetes to identify potential areas of service improvement such as diabetic foot disease. A number of Cardiovascular Strategic Clinical Networks are focussing on this to ensure that appropriate clinical pathways are in place which will deliver improved clinical outcomes for people with diabetes, including minimising amputation rates.   Within NHS England, the National Clinical Director for Rehabilitation and Recovering in the Community and the Chief Allied Health Professions Officer are leading work to improve rehabilitation services, including collection and dissemination of good practice. This will help to improve outcomes, such as improving/maintaining foot health, by putting the patient at the centre of their care, and a focus on their goals.

NHS: Employment Agencies

Lord Mawhinney: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the reply by Baroness Jolly on 27 January, when they expect the annual cost of £2.5 billion for National Health Service agency staff appointments to be reduced to £1 billion per annum.

Earl Howe: The Department is not imposing a target nor a timescale for reducing the annual cost of National Health Service agency appointments, because to do so in an arbitrary manner might put patients at risk. However, the Government expects NHS organisations, who are responsible for the recruitment and retention of their staff, to have a firm grip on their workforce planning and management including how much they spend on agency staff. NHS organisations have access to a wide range of advice, guidance and best practice available to help them with this. One of the new conditions we have recently introduced for those trusts receiving financial help under section 42 of the Health and Social Care Act 2012 is to reduce their use of and the amount they spend on agency staff.

Tobacco: Packaging

Lord Palmer: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the likely impact on the illicit tobacco market of their announcement to proceed with standardised packaging for tobacco products.

Earl Howe: The Government has considered carefully all aspects relevant to standardised packaging of tobacco products, including potential impacts on illicit trade. HM Revenue & Customs has prepared an assessment of the potential impact of standardised packaging on illicit tobacco, which will be published in due course.

Action on Smoking and Health

Lord Palmer: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will place in the Library of the House all correspondence including emails between Ministers and officials of the Department of Health and Action on Smoking and Health between 1 January 2012 and 27 January 2015.

Lord Palmer: To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many meetings the Department of Health has had at ministerial and official level with Action on Smoking and Health between 1 January 2012 and 27 January 2015; and, for each meeting, what were the titles of those attending and the topics discussed.

Earl Howe: The Department of Health holds regular meetings with ASH to monitor delivery according to the terms of the grant awarded under Section 64 of the Health and Social Care Act.   Ministers and officials meet a range of organisations on a regular basis to discuss tobacco control.   Details of Ministerial meetings with external stakeholders are published quarterly in arrears on the Gov.UK website:   https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/ministerial-gifts-hospitality-overseas-travel-and-meetings   Copies have been placed in the Library.   Searching for and preparing the correspondence requested for release could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

Tobacco: Packaging

Lord Palmer: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the potential costs of compensation due to the loss of intellectual property arising from the introduction of standardised tobacco packaging.

Earl Howe: The Government has considered carefully all issues relevant to the introduction of standardised packaging of tobacco products, including legal aspects.

Cancer: Drugs

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: To ask Her Majesty’s Government why patients and patient groups are not allowed to appeal decisions of NHS England to exclude certain drugs from the approved list in the Cancer Drugs Fund.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: To ask Her Majesty’s Government how patients' interests are able to be represented if a company chooses not to appeal decisions of NHS England to exclude certain drugs from the approved list in the Cancer Drugs Fund.

Earl Howe: NHS England’s Cancer Drugs Fund (CDF) Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) outlines that applications to include candidate drugs/indications for inclusion in the national CDF list can only be made directly for potential cohorts of patients by the pharmaceutical industry and/or clinicians.   There are two different routes for applicants to challenge the decisions of the national Cancer Drugs Fund panel – either by making a complaint to the Chair of the panel and/or by requesting a formal review (often referred to as an ‘appeal’).   The complaints process outlined within the CDF SOP, indicates that a complaint can be made by either the manufacturer or a clinician where there is dissatisfaction with the outcome (either inclusion or exclusion of a drug) in respect of the national CDF list. A complaint must be made by a written letter to the chair of the panel outlining the reasons for the complaint.   A formal review, which is undertaken by NHS England’s Cancer and Blood Programme of Care Board, can only be requested by the original applicants to the CDF where the application has been unsuccessful.   With regard to the decisions announced by NHS England on 12 January 2015, all complaints or requests for a formal review must be submitted by 9 February 2015.   NHS England’s CDF Standard Operating Procedure document is available at:   www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/sop-cdf-1114.pdf   Clinicians will continue to be able to apply for individual patients to receive drugs not on the national CDF list on an exceptional basis.   Patients have the right to make a complaint using the National Health Service complaints process and, under this process, complainants have 12 months in which to lodge their complaint. This is separate to the CDF complaints process referenced above, which can only be accessed by CDF applicants and clinicians. Details of the NHS complaints process can be found at:   www.nhs.uk/choiceintheNHS/Rightsandpledges/complaints/Pages/NHScomplaints.aspx